The Fall Semester Dean’s List at Gustavus Adolphus College has been released. The list comprises students who have earned a 3.7 grade point average (based on a scale in which 4.0 = A) or higher for the semester ending in December 2020.
The Otter Tail County Historical Society’s Coffee Klatch Local History Series continues on Friday, Jan. 22 with Otter Tail County Auditor Wayne Stein.
While Minnesota is beginning to serve those age 65 and older, educators and child care workers, health care workers and long-term care residents and staff in Phase 1a remain a priority. Otter Tail County Public Health continues to have limited access to vaccine and are continuing to offer v…
The Fergus Falls City Council approved a resolution Tuesday to support the authority to impose a local sales tax to fund specific capital improvements.
Brian Hansel
Reporter
In late 2019, Church of Peace United Methodist Church launched Peace Pantry, a program that provided care packages consisting of new items to community members who were in need. Since its beginnings, the program has changed considerably, transitioning from a ministry that invited participant…
Heather Kantrud
reporter
Gretchen Ronnevik has been a member of the Fergus Falls community since the age of 16, when she attended Hillcrest Lutheran Academy (HLA), where she graduated in the spring of 1999. Ronnevik remained in the area, where she married and is now raising her family, complete with six children, al…
Heather Kantrud
reporter
This is one in a series of articles written by students who received scholarships in 2020 awarded through the Fergus Falls Area Dollars for Scholars chapter. The purpose of these articles is to thank the community for its support of students and their higher education goals.
It’s the holidays. Connie stood staring at the piles of boxes. Jeannie giggled on the number of items that were crammed into her office. Fran sprang into action - she had two counties’ worth of items to sort and distribute. Matour replied with a sincere, “Thank you for remembering our com…
Bell Bank has promoted three experienced bankers – Joe Watzke, Eric Halvorson and Todd Zabel – as the “next generation” of leaders in its central market region, headquartered in Fargo, Watzke SVP/agriculture banking director, Halvorson has been named SVP/commercial banking director and Zabel…
Rodney Jordahl, chief financial officer at Bell Bank since 1999, retired Dec. 31 after guiding the company’s finances through more than two decades of growth and change.
Following the pause in youth sports, Balance Gymnastics Center in Fergus Falls has reopened with regular programming.
Gov. Tim Walz has directed all flags at state and federal buildings in Minnesota to be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021 to remember, mourn and honor lives lost due to COVID-19. On this day, Walz also encourages all Minnesotans to light a candle in their wi…
The Fergus Falls Sertoma Scavenger Hunt fundraiser will be held Sunday, Feb. 7, according to chapter president, Denise DeMartelaere.
Brian Hansel
Reporter
HENNING — It has taken many months of planning, technical fixes, training and test flights, but Boeing’s 737 Max is now back in the air, and an Otter Tail County man has a front-row seat with American Airlines to watch it all unfold.
Many older Catholics throughout Otter Tail County recall the days of Latin Masses. This changed for Catholic churches from 1962 to 1964, coinciding with the Second Vatican Council when there was a switch from Latin to English in the United States.
The arrival of the “New Year’s Baby” is an exciting time at medical facilities such as Lake Region Healthcare in Fergus Falls, which welcomed their first baby of 2021 on Jan. 7 at 8:19 a.m.
Heather Kantrud
reporter
On Monday, the Minnesota Department of Health announced a new community COVID-19 vaccine program that partners with local public health and school districts at nine locations across the state — including a location in Fergus Falls. The pilot sites will initially serve adults aged 65 and olde…
On Feb. 1, Messiah Lutheran Church of Underwood will welcome a new pastor, Nate Nash, to their congregation. The avid outdoorsman, husband, and father of five (with another girl due to arrive in April) is from the Midwest but is relocating to the area from his wife’s native state of Pennsylvania.
Heather Kantrud
reporter
President-elect Joe Biden will host a memorial to remember and honor the lives lost to COVID-19 Tuesday on the eve of his inauguration in Washington, D.C.
Brian Hansel
Reporter
Minnesota is launching a COVID-19 vaccine pilot program, partnering with local public health and school districts, Gov. Tim Walz announced on Monday. These sites will initially serve adults 65 years of age or older, as well as prekindergarten through grade 12 educators, school staff and chil…
Haiti Mama is a company founded by Fergus Falls social worker, Tausha Pearson. At the time of its creation, Pearson was a single mother of two toddlers and was embarking on a life-changing journey to Haiti to help make progress in remedying the drastic unemployment rates in accordance with h…
Heather Kantrud
reporter
Health care providers were given the green light Thursday by state health leaders to begin the vaccination of people 65 and older against the coronavirus.
Brian Hansel
Reporter
Desta Hunt, mother and grandmother, spent the better part of 27 years traveling the globe with her husband and family with the United States military. She grew up in Fergus Falls and after her husband retired from the military in 1993, they returned to the area. Throughout her travel and exp…
Heather Kantrud
reporter
The United Way of Otter Tail & Wadena Counties’ 13th annual Friends of Friends Fighting Hunger will be held virtually on Saturday, Jan. 30.
Minnesota State Community and Technical College (M State) has named 560 students to its president’s list and 566 students to its dean’s list for the 2020 fall semester.
In, January, the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center, Morris, will offer a free horticulture educational class, “The Nutritional World of Edible Beans.”
Area students Tyler Hansen and Hallie Sheridan, both of Fergus Falls, were named to the 2020 fall semester dean’s list at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
Area students Wyatt Thorson of Fergus Falls and Carter Aakre of Perham were named to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls 2020 fall semester dean’s list
Due to the lingering pandemic, related restrictions, and a desire to keep members and performers safe, the Fergus Falls Concert Association has made the difficult decision to postpone all concerts scheduled for this February, March, and April 2021.
Nestled into Fergus Falls’ downtown is Cecelia Designs, a jewelry wholesaler that has products on shelves across the country. Dedicated to nature, philanthropy and sustainability, Cecelia Designs plants one tree for every sale.
Heather Kantrud
reporter
Dayne Adrian Sitladeen has been charged with a gross misdemeanor in Seventh District Court for possession of a firearm without a permit following his arrest Sunday on Interstate 94 by a Minnesota State Trooper.
Brian Hansel
Reporter
The Fergus Falls City Council plans to continue the single- and two-family tax rebate program in 2021.
Brian Hansel
Reporter
Otter Tail County has received grants to provide homeowners with financial assistance to replace noncompliant septic systems. Financial assistance is in the form of grants and/or a zero-interest loan. Applications will be accepted from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 and the grant is first come first ser…
Gov. Tim Walz today activated the Minnesota National Guard to assist state and local law enforcement in public safety efforts in Saint Paul over the coming days. The governor’s action follows the violent insurrection at the United States Capitol last week and national reports of possible arm…
The Otter Tail County Historical Society’s Coffee Klatch Local History Series begins Friday, 11 a.m. on Zoom.
Gregg Raisanen, vice president of academic and student affairs at Alexandria Technical & Community College recognizes individual students for academic excellence during fall 2020. The following students were named to the dean’s list for achieving a GPA of 3.5 or higher Fall Semester 2020:
Students from your region have been named to the University of Jamestown Fall 2020 Dean’s List for maintaining a semester GPA of 3.50 or better. They are as follows:
Hamline University student Sophie Rausch of Fergus Falls, was named to the College of Liberal Arts Dean’s List for the Fall 2020 semester. To qualify, students must earn a GPA of 3.5 or higher and maintain a full course load.
Central Lakes College, Brainerd and Staples, has announced its 2020 fall semester honors lists.
The role of the parent is one of the most important and influential in the lives of children. This is especially true for Fergus Falls resident, Larry Dorn, who took the experiences of his father and transformed the stories into a book, “Russell Dorn: A Tribute.”
Pediatric pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a condition in which the arteries of the lungs are plagued with high blood pressure, causing the right side of the heart to work harder in order to push blood through the narrowed arteries of the lungs. This results in an enlarged right ventricle of t…
Heather Kantrud
reporter
This is one in a series of articles written by students who received scholarships in 2017 awarded through the Fergus Falls Area Dollars for Scholars chapter. The purpose of these articles is to thank the community for its support of students and their higher education goals.
Brink Lawyers P.A. is proud to announce that University of St. Thomas School of Law Student, Lexi Wentworth,of Fergus Falls, is the recipient of Brink Lawyers Northern Valley Scholarship for Minnesota law school students.
The Victor Lundeen Company is pleased to announce that it will have a book signing with Larry Dorn of Fergus Falls, on Thursday, Jan. 14 from 2 to 4 p.m. Larry has written and published a well-researched 200-page book about his father, which highlights his father’s service to his country dur…
Steven Ness of Fergus Falls has accepted the role of team leader at Keller Williams Realty Professionals (KWRP), one of the Lakes Country’s largest residential real estate brokerages. Ness has been the director of growth for Ryan Hanson Homes (RHH) of Keller Williams for the last year. RHH i…
The Minnesota Department of Transportation is pulling out all the stops in the year ahead. Their goal is to reestablish ridership on transit buses.
Brian Hansel
Reporter
On Monday, the ISD 544 School Board met in their first meeting of the year, holding first their reorganization meeting followed by their regularly scheduled meeting. After establishing a quorum, the meetings were called to order.
Heather Kantrud
reporter
This month, the Otter Tail County Solid Waste Department kicks off a year-long campaign to increase awareness of the benefits of reducing and reusing. Research shows that people often think of recycling as the primary way to reduce waste, but reducing waste before it happens and focusing on …
Otter Tail County received $1.15 million from the recent State of Minnesota economic relief package to provide support in the form of grant funding to small businesses and nonprofit organizations most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and related executive orders.
In April 2020, A Center for the Arts (AC4TA) kicked off their inaugural virtual concert. Their roster of virtual concerts and performances was launched in response to gathering restrictions put into place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the announcement of lesser restrictions, AC4TA wi…
The American Red Cross will be hosting a blood drive at the Fergus Falls Area YMCA, 1164 Friberg Ave., Wednesday, Jan. 20, Thursday, Jan. 21 and Friday, Jan. 22.
On Mon. Jan. 11, Ruby’s Pantry, in partnership with the Church of the Nazarene and Farmers to Families, will be distributing free dinner kits/protein boxes at a drive-through event in the parking lot of the Church of the Nazarene.
On Dec. 21, the YMCA reopened for the second time with some changes in procedures in the interest of health and safety. See the website at fergusfallsymca.org for details.
With 12 days left in his term, President Donald Trump has finally bent to reality amid growing talk of trying to force him out early, acknowledging he'll peacefully leave after Congress affirmed his defeat.
Legal protection for the work of artists, writers and others with creative outputs is sometimes overlooked, especially in small communities. Springboard for the Arts has teamed up with legal personnel out of the Twin Cities to help bridge the gap, offering free clinics in which members of th…
Heather Kantrud
reporter
With three solid months of winter and sometimes as much as six, one of the top draws in Minnesota has always been the white stuff.
Brian Hansel
Reporter
On Wednesday, protesters opposed to the count and certification of the electoral votes stormed the U.S. Capitol while the U.S. House of Representatives looked to certify President-elect Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States of America.
Zach Stich
Editor
On Jan. 1, Boss Mom’s Crafting hosted a grand opening event in its permanent storefront at 123 W. Lincoln Ave., the space across the hall from Sugarbomb in the Hastings Law Office building in downtown Fergus Falls. Boss Mom’s Crafting, owned and operated by Abby Barry and one other employee,…
Heather Kantrud
reporter
Jordan Rasmusson officially is a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives after taking the oath of office Tuesday at the Capitol.
As the COVID-19 situation improves by nearly every metric across Minnesota, Governor Tim Walz today announced measures that loosen restrictions on important parts of daily life. The Governor also urged Minnesotans to protect the progress made over the past month.